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Running Header: ADOPT TO STOP

Adopt to Stop: The Horror of Puppy Mills

Hailey Mumpower
First Colonial High School
Legal Studies Academy

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Abstract
The writer talks about what puppy mills are and why they are unethical. Also how puppy mill
came to be an issue. There are several photos which the writer speaks about. We find out a story
about two men who worked for a puppy mill. The writer talks about statistics on puppy mills and
the impacts these mills put on our society. She talks about the legal implications, specifically
with Virginia. We also learn about some laws in Iowa and what happened to a puppy mill in
Arkansas. She goes on to talk about the solutions for puppy mills.

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Adopt to Stop: The Horror of Puppy Mills
Millions of animals die every year. Some animals die due to sickness, others starvation,
but the worst of them all is the animals that die for money. Puppy mills are a multi-million dollar
business (Cespedes, 2012). Approximately 37% to 47% of all households in the United States
own dogs (American Society, 2015). Families just want a new member to bring home and fall in
love with, but little do they know how their puppys life started. Puppy mills are in business
because our society does not know, or care enough, about what really goes on behind pet store
doors.
The Human Society indicates that, a puppy mill is an inhumane, commercial dogbreeding facility in which the health of the dogs is disregarded in order to maintain a low
overhead and maximize profits (Puppy Mills: The Humane Society, 2015). The term puppy mill
was an American postwar phrase made in order to denote commercial dog breeders that massproduced dogs, normally pure-breeds, for pet shops in the United States (McClintock, 1992).
Commercial dog breeders breed animals but actually care about the wellbeing of the dogs. What
draws the line between a commercial dog breeder and a puppy mill is that puppy mills care about
the money. Puppy mill owners do not care about the animals, if a puppy were to get sick or die
the mill owner will not be able to make a profit, they see the animals as property. Puppy mills
will put as many dogs into a single cage as they can fit to maximize the profits. For example, in
Appendix E, F, K and L you see four or five puppies fit into each cage. Puppy mill owners see
dogs as cash crops.
There are thousands of puppy mills all over the country. Every year 2.11 million puppies
are sold from puppy mills, while 3.9 million are killed in shelters because they are too full and
there arent enough adoptive homes (11 Facts, 2015). However, puppy mills are not new means

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for a person to acquire a pet. Because of crop failure in World War II, farmers began to breed
dogs. It was encouraged by the US Department of Agriculture and in 1966, President Lyndon B
Johnson signed the Animal Welfare Act. This Act make it mandatory for any breeder with more
than three dogs to apply for a license. Although the Act was a giant step, puppy mills only
required to have cages be six inches taller than the dogs and allowed them to live on wire cages
for their entire lives (Hesse, 2015). President Lyndon B Johnson created the Animal Welfare Act
in 1966 because that's when puppy mills started become a recurring issue. In 1992 " roughly
half-million puppies sold every year at America's pet stores" (Shook, 1992). That number has
now skyrocketed to 2.11 million puppies sold every year. The Animal Welfare Act was the first
law ever passed regarding puppy mills. However, there are some loopholes to the law. Dogs are
able to live in wire cages for their entire lives and are not required to see the light of day, nor are
they required to ever touch the ground. The Animal Welfare Act protects animals so that puppy
mill factories do not run without the US Department of Agriculture knowing. The Animal
Welfare Act helps the puppies in these mills but the mills still get away with unethical behaviors.
Some of those unethical behaviors are starving the puppies and having too many dogs in one
cage. Puppy mills are also known for having their animals outside in extreme conditions.
Puppy mills are unethical because the importance of money is more substantial than the
health of the dog. Riverfront Times reported that currently dogs in puppy mills are "fed raw cow
meat infested with maggots. Their faces are matted with so much feces that they can't see. Their
wounds bleed and ooze without any medical treatment. They are left outside on wire floors to
freeze to death" (Toler, 2014). The puppies in these mills are only alive for the money, and some
of them don't even make it to their destination.

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Many pet stores will say they revived their dogs from breeders and not puppy mills. "A
responsible breeder would not sell her puppies to a pet store; she would want to meet you in
person" (Villanova University, 2010). A breeder who knows what they are doing is going to sell
the puppies themselves instead of selling them to pet stores. Although most people believe the
pet stores when they say the puppies at their stores are not from puppy mills. "Investigations by
Humane Society of the United States revealed that 99% of the puppies for sale originated from
mills. They may be USDA licensed breeders, even provide purebred papers, but they are still
deplorable mills" (National Puppy, 2013).
Puppy mills are present in every state. Almost every pet store in a mall gets their puppies
from puppy mills. Although buying a puppy from a pet store is more expensive than adopting a
puppy at the pound, more people go to the pet stores. This is because you can get what every
breed of dog you want, and they are so young you will be there first owner. If you adopt a dog
from a pound or animal shelter, the youngest puppies are normally 4 or 5 months old, and they
are rarely pure-bred. If you bought a puppy from a breeder they would be more expensive than
buying a puppy from a pet store. This is because pet store puppies are often sold at wholesale
prices and breeders spend more money and time into the animals so they expect to receive more
than that of pet stores (Villanova University, 2010). Puppies practically sell themselves.
Roughly 35,000 pet stores are in the United States (Madonna of the Mills, 2015). Puppy mills
are built on "impulse purchases and the desire to immediately take home a puppy the minute a
pet store employee places one in the vulnerable customer's arms. This mentality provides the
economic demand that fuels the supply of puppies from commercial breeders" (Villanova
University, 2010).
Legal Implications

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Puppy mill laws vary from state to state; some states do not have laws against puppy
mills while other states have strict laws. Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Florida, Hawaii,
Idaho, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Carolina,
South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming are all states that do not require licensing to have
puppy mills.
Arkansas
Forty-six dogs eleven cats and a few chickens were rescued from a woman's home in
Randolph County in Warm Springs. Her names was Sandra Croney and she was convicted on six
counts of animal cruelty and ordered to pay $5,000 restitution to the Human Society (Brantley,
Max). She has a one-year ban on animal ownership and is not allowed to own or operate a puppy
mill business. According to Melanie Kahn, senior director of the Humane Society of the United
States Puppy Mill Campaign, said "Arkansas is one of the most problematic puppy mill states in
the country since there are no state laws to protect dogs in commercial breeding facilities."
Sandra Croney only had to pay $5,000 for the lives of countless dogs, cats and chickens. Unlike
Arkansas states like Virginia have more laws, therefore making it harder to have puppy mills,
but still as easy to purchase dogs from puppy mills.
Virginia
Virginia is one of the few states that have strict laws against puppy mills. The
Comprehensive Animal Care, 3.2-6500-3.26590 is Virginia's law against puppy mills. The law
mentioned that no one is allowed to be a commercial dog breeder without having a valid business
license from the same location where that person is breeding dogs (3.2-6507.1). The law also
makes all pet shops or anyone operating as a dealer to have a permit from the location where

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they are breeding (3.2-6537). Pet shops cannot sell any dogs from a breeder that is not licensed
by the U.S.D.A. pursuant to the Animal Welfare Act.
The law goes on to define key words and explains what commercial dog breeders are
along with dealers Kennels and pet shops. A commercial dog breeder is any person who, during
any 12-mo. Period, maintains 30 or more adult female dogs for the primary purpose of selling
their offspring as companion animals" (3.2-6500). According to the law a dealer is any person
who, in the regular course of business, buys or sells companion animals for profit. Any person
who transports companion animals as a common carrier is not considered a dealer (3.2-6500).
Section 3.2-6500 also defines a kennel as any establishment in which 5 or more canines or
felines are kept for purposes of breeding, hunting, training, renting, buying, boarding, selling, or
showing. The last definition section 3.2-6500 are pet shops. The code says any establishment
where companion animals are sold or offered for sale to the general public, is considered a pet
shop.
This law also includes inspections for any commercial breeder. The law makes it that the
state has the power to inspect any business premises where animals are. That includes kennels,
pet shops, and any premises of any dealer at a reasonable time. The law also states that upon
receiving a complaint of a suspected violation...any law protecting domestic animals, any animal
control officer, law-enforcement officer, or State Veterinarians representative may enter upon,
during business premises, including any place where animals or animal records are housed or
kept..." (3.2-6564(A)). This includes the dealer or pet shop owners homes. Any commissioner,
state veterinarian, animal control officer or public health and safety official may, "upon receiving
a complaint or upon his own motion, investigate any violation of the provisions of this chapter,
including inspection of the breeders records, companion animals, & any place where animals are

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bred or maintained (3.2-6507.3(A)). This includes any place or property owned by commercial
dog breeders and any place where commercial dog breeders maintain operations.
There are also human standards for every commercial breeder. The standards are the
following:
Each owner, including dealers, pet shops and kennels, shall provide for each of his
companion animals: adequate feed; adequate water; adequate shelter that is properly
cleaned; adequate space in the primary enclosure for the particular type of animal
depending upon its age, size, species, and weight; adequate exercise; adequate care,
treatment, and transportation; and veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering or
disease transmission (3.2-6503(A)). Commercial dog breeders shall: (1) Maintain no
more than 50 dogs over the age of 1 year for breeding purposes. However, more dogs
may be allowed if approved by local ordinance after a public hearing; (2) Breed female
dogs only between the ages of 18 mo. & 8 years, & after annual veterinary certification;
(3) Employ a vet for all euthanasia; (4) Maintain accurate medical and identification
records for each animal for at least 5 years. (3.2-6507.2)
Iowa
Puppy mills have been seen in states all over the country, but Iowa is in the top five of
most puppy mills in the United States. Under 162.10A Commercial establishments of the Iowa
law states all the standards of care needed to have operations. Commercial establishments must
provide standard of care for adequate food, adequate water, housing facilities, sanitary control,
and grooming. They must also provide Veterinary care. "A commercial establishment, other than
a research facility or pet shop, shall provide for the standard of care for dogs in its possession or

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under its control" (Chapter 7, 162.2). Adequate water was defined as, "reasonable access to a
supply of clean, fresh, potable water provided in a sanitary manner or provided at suitable
intervals for the species and not to exceed twenty-four hours at any interval" (Chapter 7, 162.2).
Adequate food means, "suitable intervals of not more than twenty-four hours or longer of a
quantity of wholesome foodstuff suitable for the species and age, sufficient to maintain a
reasonable level of nutrition in each animal"(Chapter 7, 162.2). The law went on to say that all
the food must be served in a clean "receptacle, dish or container." Animal shelter is defined as a
"facility which is used to house or contain dogs...and which is owned, operated, or maintained by
an incorporated humane society, animal welfare society, society for the prevention of cruelty to
animals, or other nonprofit organization" (Chapter 7, 162.2). A pet shop is any establishment
where "a vertebrate animal is bought, sold, exchanged, or offered for sale". Although any
establishment that "receives less than five hundred dollars from the sale or exchange of
vertebrate animals during a twelve-month period" or "if the establishment sells or exchanges less
than six animals during a twelve-month period" than that establishment is not considered to be a
pet shop. (162.2).
Each pet shop must have a state license in order to operate. Each commercial breeder and
dealer must have a state license or permit. For each establishment owned or operated, by the
same person, must have a separate state license or permit (Chapter 7, 162.2). Authorization
expires annually and must be renewed by the commercial establishment on an annual basis
before the expiration date. Any establishment can have their license or registration denied or
revoked during any period of time. One of the more important parts of the law is that "a pet shop
shall not purchase a dog or cat from a commercial establishment that does not have a valid
authorization issued or renewed under this chapter or a similar authorization issued or renewed

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by another state" (Chapter 7, 162.2). Therefore, if a pet shop bought dogs from commercial dog
breeders that do not have a valid license or permit the pet store will be at fault.
These standards, in the Virginia law along with the Iowa law, protect the animals so that
commercial dog breeders do not turn their facilities into puppy mills. They protected the animals
so that no female dog will be breed without receiving a veterinary certification. Also it makes it
possible that all animals receive food and water along with a clean environment. There are laws
put into place to protect these animals, so it's not only that puppy mill owners are not following
the law, but also the law is not following puppy mills; for if it were, there would be no puppy
mills in the United States and we know that not to be the case.
Ethical Implications
Families adopt animals for many different reasons, but one thing they all have in common
is that they want their new family member to be healthy and happy. When animals come from
puppy mills, they are often very sick and can have problems later on in life. This will cost the
family more than they had originally signed up for. Also having added a new member to the
family and then having the puppy get very sickly will not bring a family closer together.
Puppy mills breed dogs until they get sick or die; therefore, they can get the full use out
of their dogs. Many veterinarians believe that dams, mother dogs, should never be bred before
the age of two or after the age of five (Dog Breed Info Center, 2015). Each dam is different in
every way. New studies show that it is okay to do back-to-back breeding, because there are
normally smaller litters and would give each dam about 5 liters, (Dog Breed Info Center, 2015).
Dams many grow insane and become very defensive over there litters. Dams can also become
very weak and sick because they are always pregnant. Think about it. They are pregnant for over
5 years. Overall, it is very unhealthy for the dam to be in puppy mills.

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Case Study
One man in 2005 worked in a puppy mill. He and his friend were hired in the winter to
drive a car across the country. They had to deliver dogs from breeding facilities to stores. The
man wished to keep his identity a secret but let Vice publish an article about his new job. When
he first heard about the job he did not think he was going to be committing a crime nor did he
know he was going to be "participating in an industry of torture that would haunt me forever
(Hesse, 2015).
He thought that he would be driving across the country with four or five purebred
puppies, but he was in for a rude awakening. He said when he got there at 5am first he noticed
the smell, then the screams. He went on to say how the kennels were stacked six or seven high
with three or four dogs in each kennel. There was every type of dog and they were all less than
eight weeks old. The barks were not playful but more like pained screams. He vomited up his
morning coffee because they smell of the animals feces. They carried two Collies and three Great
Danes to the van. Then his friend started putting two or three dogs into each kennel. He even
noticed the adult female dog was chained to the ground. The dog helplessly barking as she
watched her puppies being taken away. He later found out that her voice box had been removed
(Hesse, 2015).
He continued the trip after because a conversation he had with his friend. "You ate a
breakfast burrito from McDonald's this morningwhat do you think it looks like where the
chicken in that burrito is made?" his friend asked him in the van after he told him he thought it
was disgusting how these puppies were treated. The puppy mill looks closely like chicken coops
in the documentary Food Inc., which exposes the unethical practices of farming. Appendix B, C,
E, F, G, K, and L show images like cages these two men saw. His friend said, "the people who

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buy these dogs at their local mall, they can afford to not know where their puppies come from.
But we're poor, so we see behind the curtain. We work behind the curtain." They both know what
happens, the dark truth about where these animals come from, because they experienced it
firsthand.
He said that the van was full and there were over one hundred puppies in there. They
were required to keep the vehicle moving 24 hours a day. The puppies were not allowed to be let
out of their cages and there was little time to feed or give water to the dogs. He said the smell of
the dogs was heart wrenching so they decided to crack the car windows but the January weather
did not agree with them so they had to close the windows so the puppies didn't catch pneumonia
and die. Both friends got very sick during the trip because the stench of the unsanitary cages
mixed with the smell of ill puppies (Hesse, 2015).
When they would unload dogs at the pet stores he would feel a sigh of relief. When they
got to Chicago one pet store owner went to the van and said, "Don't get pulled over in Illinois
with your van looking like that, you'll be arrested for animal abuse." Then he said he began to
cry in front of a complete stranger (Hesse, 2015).
A couple years later two men were arrested for the exact same crime these men
committed, at the exact same company. They were charged with dozens of count of animal
cruelty. According to Mary LaHay, president of Iowa Friends of Companion Animals, "There are
little slaps on the wrist here and there, but nothing serious". Also that " the USDA bends over
backwards to help these folks; if they're out of line with the regulations, they'll give them years
to improve."
When they arrived to a pet store, each dog was briefly examined for kennel cough, eye
infections and other symptoms. If any were found, the dog would be rejected by the store and

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sent back to the mill. He said his heart would leap at the site of these dogs placed into large bins
with other puppies. They would finally see the light of day. He went on to say how there was
nothing worse than when a puppy would be turned down.
By the time they arrived to their final destination there were only half a dozen puppies
left. Both men and all the dogs in the can were sick and they had barely slept the whole trip. He
and his friend had become disgusted with their new job so they called their boss in Iowa and
quit. Now they had time to return home. When there were in Ohio, they stopped at a park and let
the remaining puppies out of their cage. It was a warm afternoon and the dogs were playing and
running around in the grass. They jumped around experiencing grass and fresh-air for the first
time. He went on talking about the park saying,
We ran and they chased us. I tumbled to the ground and the dogs all over leapt all over
me, licking my face and tickling my skin with their sinewy, cotton-like furnever once
understanding that we were the villains. We were the ones responsible for their misery.
All they understood was this one moment of happiness and love, a single instance of
grace, quite possibly was the only one they would ever know (Hesse, 2015).
The puppies that were rejected by the pet stores were either brought back to the puppy mill to
breed, killed or sold to laboratories for research (Last Chance, 2015). The story above illustrates
that puppy mills are real, and they are happening now.
In a video of an inspector viewing a breeders home, there are about four dogs in each
cage, there are about six or seven cages and thirteen dogs in a closet. The puppies are the right
weight and size. The breeder was able to provide proof that a few dogs have been to the
veterinarian. Therefore against the law the breeder is doing nothing illegal. The only thing the
inspector was able to do was to provide advice and monitor the situation (Puppy Mills, 2012).

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Impacts on the Puppies
When puppies come from puppy mills they are more likely to get very sick and have
problems early on in life. "The lack of socialization early on often leads to aggression or fear.
Puppies also learn their house-training from their mothers, but the mothers in mills aren't housetrained. And then there are genetic anomalies like hip dysplasia, allergies, luxating patellas"
(LaHay, 2015). Many puppies do not know how to socialize and do not work well with children
because of this lack of socialization early in life. Therefore many of these puppy end up in
pounds.
In Appendix A though L it shows pictures of animals through puppy mills. The photos
were provided to me from Mary LaHay, the Founder and President at Iowa Friends of
Companion Animals. The photos were taken by USDA inspectors in the course of their
inspections of Iowa USDA licensed dog breeders. LaHay obtained them through the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA). Appendix A, H and I show dogs covered in feces and un-groomed fur.
According 162.2 a commercial establishment must provide adequate food, water housing
facilities and grooming practices. By looking at the pictures you can infer that the dogs did not
receive grooming practices. Appendix D and J show images of dogs eyes that are infected. D
shows a dog with puce coming out of its eye while J shows a dog with swollen red eyes.
Veterinary care is also in the Iowa law stating that "a commercial establishment... shall provide
for the standard of care for dogs in its possession or under its control" (162.4). Neither dog
received veterinary care for their eyes.
Puppies will also have better homes when they come from breeders rather than puppy
mills. This is because not just anyone can purchase a dog from a breeder but anyone can

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purchase a dog from a pet store. This shows how breeders care about the wellbeing of the
animals while puppy mills are just in it for the money. Also dogs purchased at pet stores are more
likely to end up in animal shelters than dogs purchased from breeders. "An estimated 25% of all
dogs entering shelters are purebred dogs that originate from puppy mills, which puts a strain on
community resources and contributes to the tragic 4 million+ homeless pets euthanized annually"
(National Puppy, 2013).
Solutions
Every year 2.11 million puppies are sold from puppy mills, while 3 million are killed in
shelters because they are too full and there arent enough adoptive homes (11 Facts, 2015). If
people knew the truth about puppy mills, they would stop buying animals from puppy mills and
start adopting animals from pounds and animal shelters, not only would they be putting an end to
cruelty and puppy mills, but they would be saving dogs from being put down because no one is
adopting them.
Every time you walk into a pet store at the mall you are supporting puppy mills. Even if
you just buy a sign that says lab parking only, you are supporting puppy mills. If these businesses
make money they will keep doing these inhumane things. In order to not support puppy mills,
people should not even go near these pet stores. The store will soon find out they cannot make
money when they receive their puppies from mills and they will start finding humane ways to
sell dogs.
Conclusion
"For at least four decades puppy mills have been one of the most shameful
embarrassments of the dog world" (Shook, 1992). If 2.11 million animals are sold every year
from puppy mills, then there is a huge problem in our society. Stopping these corporations will

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not only take millions of dollars but also infinite hours dedication. If people actually care about
the wellbeing of animals they will start doing what is right. They will start adopting from local
animals shelters and stay away from pet stores. One day puppy mills will never be a problem and
that day cannot come any sooner.

Appendix
A:

B:

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C:

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D:

E:

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F:

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G:

H:

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I:

J:

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K:

L:

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References
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American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. (2015). Adopt a Pet. Retrieved from
https://www.aspca.org/adopt-pet
Brantley, Max. "Conviction of Animal Cruelty Reported in Puppy Mill Case." Arkansas Times.
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LaHay, M. (2015, November/December). Mary LaHay, Puppy Mills [E-mail interview].
Last Chance for Animals. (2015). Puppy Mill Facts. Retrieved from
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Madonna of the Mills- A Documentary about Puppy Mills. (2015). 10 Things To Know About
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McClintock, J. (1992). Not Fit for a Dog. LIFE.
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Toler, L. (2014, May 27). Missouri Dominates Humane Society List of 101 of the Worst Puppy
Mills in U.S. Retrieved from

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